next story

I Love This: Cocktail Hour Playlist! (What’s on Yours?)

Regardless of what kind of music they have during their reception—band, DJ, mariachi quintet—lots of couples rely on an iPod during cocktail hour.

Makes sense. You might as well save the live entertainment for when people will be dancing.

With that in mind, I wanted to share the playlist Rory made for our friends Seton and Tom’s wedding last summer. (They asked him to! He doesn’t just bring playlists to weddings hoping that someone will pick his!) It was the perfect mix—and it’s one I still throw all the time when I need an hour (and fifty-two minutes) to clean the apartment or make dinner.

He Can Only Hold Her Amy Winehouse

Two of Us Aimee Mann & Michael Penn (from the I Am Sam soundtrack)

Sunday Mornings Maroon 5

You Are the Sunshine of My Life Stevie Wonder

You Ever Slip The Black Keys

Worst Trip Dr. Dog

The Intro and Outro Bonzo Dog-Doo-Dah Band

High School Jeremy Fisher

Good Night Rose Ryan Adams

Watching the Wheels Matisyahu

Side With Seeds Wilco

Shine a Light The Rolling Stones

Please Read the Letter Robert Plant & Allison Kraus

Oh Josephine Black Crowes

Join Me in L.A. Warren Zevon

It Makes No Difference My Morning Jacket

In Repair John Mayer

I’m a Ram Gov’t Mule

Golden Brown The Stranglers

Better Together Jack Johnson (from the Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba album)

Crazy Mama J.J. Cale

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa Vampire Weekend

Any Cure Sucdues

I’m Yours Jason Mraz

Love That Girl Raphael Saadiq

Clocks Coldplay (from the Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba album)

Poison Pushy Stanton Moore

Oh! Lady Be Good Count Basie

Would you put any of these songs on your cocktail hour playlist? Are there any must-have songs that you want on yours?